Surgical lamp device



Oct 15, 1935. F. c. WAPPLER SURGICAL LAMP DEVICE Filed Dec. 22, 1933 II I. III

W1 f a l w wis Patented Oct. 15, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIcE SURGICAL LAMP DEVICE Frederick Charles Wappler, New York, N. Y. Application December 22, 1933, Serial No. 703,517

2 Claims.

My present invention relates generally to surgical apparatus, and has particular reference to illuminating devices.

It is a general object of my invention to pro- 5; vide an improved lamp device of the type which is used. by surgeons, dentists, and others for a variety of purposes, sometimes for projecting a beam of light through the sinus cavities, sometimes for illuminating the interior of relatively large cavii ties such as the mouth, and often for illuminating the interior anatomy that is exposed during operations.

A primary requisite of a lampdevice of this type is that it be readily sterilizable, and it is a feature of my invention to provide a construction which produces a'unitary, completely enclosed article readily adapted for insertion, bodily, into a sterilizer.

Devices of this general character have usually suffered from .two principal disadvantages. The glass enclosure or sheath, even though of frosted character, produces an undesirable glare which impairs the clear visibility that is desired when the device is inserted into a cavity to project a beam of light toward a specific area. Also, the glass enclosure that is usually used is not a very good heat conductor, and the electric lamp that is contained therein tends toproduce a concentrated heat which is not only bad for the lamp itself and for the glass enclosure, but which causes discomfort to the patient with whom the device is contacted.

It is a specific object of my present invention to provide an improved article having the desirable characteristics which a device of this type calls for, and embodying a construction which effectively overcomes the disadvantages hereinbefore specified.

More specifically, it is a feature of my invention to provide a device in which a tube of heatconductive, opaque material is purposely provided within an outer glass sheath in a manner whereby the tube not only eliminates any undesirable glare, but also effectuates a withdrawal and dissipation of the heat engendered by the electric lamp.

I achieve the foregoing objects, and such other objects as may hereinafter appear or be pointed out, in the manner illustratively exemplified in the accompanying drawing, wherein- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device constructed in accordance with my present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged, longitudinal, cross-sectional view; and

Figure 3 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

The device consists essentially of a terminal member if of the type which is insertable into a lamp socket or the like, an elongated glass sheath 5 i l associated at its rear end with the member It, and a lamp bulb i2 disposed within the forward end of the sheath ll.

Preferably, the terminal member H3 is of the shell type, provided with a center contact E3 in- 10 sulated from the threaded shell, the latter serving as the opposite terminal of the member. This terminal member is adapted to be screwed into association with an ordinary threadedsocket, whereby the opposite terminals of the member 66 are brought into electrical connection, respectively, with the opposite terminals of a source of current such as a battery.

The elongated sheath i i is preferably cemented, as at Hi, into the body of the terminal member l6. The-sheath may be of frosted glass, for the sake of appearance, but need not necessarily be frosted in character. At its forward end G5 the sheath is purposely of a non-frosted character so as to permit the free passage therethrough of a 25 forwardly projecting beam of light.

The lamp bulb i2 is provided with the usual filament l6 which is connected at its rear end with the lead-in wires ii'. These wires extend rearwardly through the sheath i i, and ultimately pass out of the sheath and into electrical connection with the two terminals, respectively, of the terminal member In.

In accordance with my presentinvention, a tube I8 of heat-conductive, opaque material is nested within the sheath H and is almost coextensive in length with the latter. This tube is preferably made of metal, such as copper, and its forward end is positioned so as to snugly encircle all but the front end wall of the bulb 82. A convenient way of mounting the tube in association with the bulb I2 is to cement the latter within the forward end of the tube it, as indicated by the reference numeral 19. The rear end 2!) of the metallic tube 18 preferably terminates short of the-rear end of the sheath H.

So that the wires leading to the filament of the lamp may be properly insulated from each other, and so that any undesired displacement of the wires or rattling thereof will be avoided, one of them is preferably enclosed within a sheath 2| of suitable flexible insulating material. Near the rear end of the tube [8 a wad 'or similar mass 24 of cotton or the like is interposed between the wires H to hold them in separated andfixed re- 55 lationship; and within the rear portion of the sheath It a similar wad 22 is wedged between the wires H for a similar purpose.

When the device is used it is screwed into a suitable socket whereby, either with or without a switch control, the lamp I2 is rendered operative. This causes a beam of light to project forwardly from the device, the approximate boundary of the beam being designated by the dotand-dash lines between the arrow-23. This is a purely forward beam, emanating only through the front end wall of the bulb l2. No illumination from the lamp is permitted to cause any glare rearwardly or laterally, because the side walls of the bulb are completely and snugly en circled by the forward portionof the opaque tube l8. Furthermore, the lamp may remain in operation for prolonged periods of time without causing any undesirable heat near the forward end of the device, since the heat that is generated by the bulb is readily absorbed by the heatconductive tube l8, this tube serving to with drawthe heat rearwardly and to distribute it throughout the entire surface area of the tube !8. The heat that would otherwise be concentrated near and around the lamp is thus effectively distributed throughout the major portion of the exposed surface of the device.

It may also be noted that the device is unitary in character, and that the foregoing advantages are coupled with the ability to subject'the device bodily t'o sterilization without in the least impairing the electrical connections orthe predetermined arrangement of parts, All of these advantages are accomplished, as will be observed, in a simple and efiicient manner which is not only feasible from a practical standpoint, but which is inexpensive and compact, and which does not detract from the general appearance or character of the device as a'whole.

In general, it will be understood that changes in the details, herein described and illustrated for the purpose of explaining the nature of my invention, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended 5 claims. It is, therefore, intended that these details be interpreted as illustrative, and not in alimiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire 10 to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A lamp device of the character described comprising a closed, elongated, glass sheath, a tube of heat-conductive, opaque material nested within said sheath and almost coextensive in 16 length with the latter, the forward end of said tube extending almost to the forward wall of said sheath; a lamp bulb disposed within the forward end of said tube with its filament behind the forward edge of said tube, and means projecting 20 rearwardly'through said tube and out of the rear end of said sheath for establishing electrical connection to said filament, whereby the heat from thebulb is absorbed and distributed by said tube, and whereby the effective illumination of the de- 25 vice is restricted to a beam projecting forwardly out of said sheath.

2.- A lamp device of the character described comprising 'a closed, elongated, glass sheath, a tube of heat-conductive, opaque material nested 3 within saidsheath and almost coextensive in length with the latter, the forward end of said tube extending almost to the forward wall of said sheath,- and a lamp bulb cemented within the forward end of said tube with its filament dis- 35 posed rearwardly of the" forward edge of said t-ubeywhe'rebythe heat from the bulb is absorbed and distributed by said tube, and whereby the tube restricts the illumination to a forward beam.

FREDERICK CHARLES WAPPLER. 

